Key holder



Oct. 31, 1967 c. w. ELSENHEIMER ETAL 3,349,590

' KEY HOLDER Filed Jan. 5, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 4

IN VENT 0R5 CHARLES H! ELSENHE/MER. y DOUGLAS J. BROUGH TON WWW A TTOR/VEY O 31, 19 c. ELSENHEIMER ETAL 3,349,590

' KEY HOLDER Fi led Jan. 5, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F l G. 9 //v VENTORS CHARLES 14 ELSENHE/MER DOUGLAS J. BROUGHTON United States Patent Ofilice 3,349,590 Patented Oct. 31, 1967 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Key holders in accordance with this invention comprise individually pivotable, resilient synthetic plastic members, each provided with a socket configured to removably receive the head of a key loop. Enhanced resilience may be imparted by a reenforcing spring metal clip.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 429,991, filed Feb. 3, 1965, and now abancloned.

Key holders of the indicated type are usually made of a piece of thin sheet steel or other suitable spring material that is cut and formed to provide a support for the metal key hooks which may be permanently or detachably connected to such support. The type of holder which detachably retains the key hooks thereon possesses certain advantages over the type of holder to which the key hooks are permanently connected, but the removal and return of a key hook with a selected key in the known key holders of this type is often 'a difiicult and at times, an irritating operation. Further, it is not uncommon for a selected key to become caught in a lock and in the attempt to extract it, to pull the key hook for such key from its support. With the known types of key holders, Whether the key hooks are detachably or permanently connected thereto, this usually results in such distortion of the key hook or its support that a repair operation is necessary to restore the holder to workable condition. Moreover, in the past, the key hooks and key holders have generally both been made of metal and with extensive use it has not been uncommon for the key hooks and/or key holders to become worn by the repeated swiveling action of a key hook in its holder. This swiveling motion occurs when a key is swung from the case, turned in a lock, or left in an automobile ignition lock with the key case dangling while the automobile is being operated.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved key holder which is not subject to the above disadvantages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key holder having detachably mounted key hooks which may be readily attached to or disconnected from the key support thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved key holder that will not be rendered inoperable by the inadvertent forcible removal of a key hook therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved key holder in which the metal-to-metal contact between the parts is avoided.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved key holder that may be readily operable to present a selected key in proper position for use without the necessity of searching for such key.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved key holder which will selectively indicate each of the several keys attached thereto and which will be readily operable to present the key selected in proper position for use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an eX- ceptionally attractive, practical key holder that can be made economically in large quantities.

Other objects of the invention, as well as the advantages and novel features of contruction thereof, will appear from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a portion of an open key case provided with a key holder constructed in accordance with the invention and one of the key retainers of which is shown in partial section;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the key holder shown in FIG. 1 and indicates in dotted outline the position of a key retainer when in use;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the key holder shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a key retainer including the upper end of a key hook attached thereto;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the shield mounted on the key retainer of FIG. 4 and illustrates the condition of such shield prior to its assembly on the plastic body of such retainer;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the assembled key retainer and shows the upper portion of a key hook attached thereto;

FIG. 7 is a bottom FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the key holder shown in FIG. 2 shaded to show the contrast between the body thereof and the attached shield; and

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of the plastic body shown in FIG. 4.

In the drawings,

plan view of the parts shown in the reference numeral 10 indicates generally a type of key case constructed that is often used by the art and in which a key holder 12 embodying the invention is incorporated. Key cases of this type may be made of flexible leather or the like, and usually include a center panel 11 on which is mounted the key holder 12, and two side flaps 13, 13 which close over the key holder and are secured together in overlapping relation in any suitable manner, as by snap fastener members. As indicated in FIG. 1, the key holder 12 may be secured by rivets 14 to the center case panel 11.

The key holder 12 comprises a back plate 17 which seats on the interior surface of the case panel 11 and which is secured to the latter by the two rivets 14. The back plate 17 has integrally formed therewith two end brackets 18, 18 which are disposed at right angles to the body of plate 17, and which extend forwardly and upwardly from the latter so that the upper endportions of such brackets are substantially above the body of plate 17 as will be seen more clearly in FIG. 2 of the drawings. Provided in the upper end portions of brackets 18, 1-8 are aligned openings through which extends an axle member 19 in the form of an elongated wire rivet that is secured in position on the brackets by upsetting one end of the shank thereof. Pivotally mounted on the axle member 19 between the brackets 18, 18 are a plurality of key retainers each of which is indicated generally by the reference numeral 20.

The key retainers 20 are each composed of a body portion 21, a body covering member or spring clip 22, and an actuator 23. The body portion 21 is preferably constituted of a resilient plastic having sufiicient rigidity to be able to support a key hook 24 against relatively strong forces tending to dislodge it therefrom and tending to return to its original configuration when distorted therefrom by forces acting on the key holder. It has been found that resilient plastics known as Celcon and Delrin are best suited for the purposes of the invention. It will be understood however, that other suitable spring materials may be employed, and the invention is adaptable to the use of a suitable metal if desired.

As is best shown in FIGS. 4, 6, 7, 9 and 10 of the drawings, each body portiton 21 has a lower substantially rectilinear section 28 and an upper tapered section 29 with its front and rear walls converging upwardly so that it is substantially triangular in side view. The upper tapered section 29 is provided with an aligned bearing opening 31 through which the axle member 19 extends. The diameter of the opening 31 approximates the diameter of axle member 19 so that body portion 21 loosely depends therefrom in upright position and may readily pivot thereon without substantial play. The length of the axle member 19 between the two brackets 18, 18 is approximately a multiple of the widths of the body portions 21 that may be mounted thereon so that while such body portions may be readily pivoted on such axle member there is relatively little play therebetween. In the device illustrated six body portions 21 are shown mounted on axle member 19, but it will be understood that any number of such body portions may be employed, such as 2, 3, 4, 5, etc. The thickness of the lower sections 28 of the body portions 21 is approximately twice the distance between the longitudinal center line of the axle member 19 and the front face of the body portion of the back plate 17 so that the latter functions as a stop to limit pivotal movement of the body portions in one direction and normally maintains the latter in aligned vertical position with the key holders 14 depending loosely therefrom.

As is shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 of the drawings, each of the key loops or hooks 24 is composed of a knob or head portion 34, a stem 33 and a generally S-shaped hook portion 35 for removably receiving the head of a key. The head 34 of the key loop may in general be of any suitable configuration which will fit into, but readily swivel in the socket formed in the synthetic plastic block or body portion 21. The transverse diameter of the head, however, should not be substantially greater than the side opening into the socket, while being substantially greater than the bottom opening of the socket. While the configuration of the head should be such as to swivel easily in the plastic block, and it is preferred for proper operation of the key loop that it be provided with fulcrum means on which the key loop may be swung or levered about its stem axis into its housed position in the socket. In the embodiment shown, the head 34 is of generally cylindrical cross section with a conically tapered portion adjoining the stem 33 of the key loop, and the outer edge 32 of which (note FIG. 6) provides the fulcrum which the key loop is swung into the socket, as will hereinafter be more fully explained. The generally S-shaped spring finger 35 formed in the shank of the key hook has its upper end projecting substantially outwardly from such shank to facilitate the placement of a key into the loop formed by the shank.

At approximately the juncture of the lower and upper sections 28, 29 of each body portion 21 there is provided a socket 38 disposed in parallelism with the axle member 19 and extending from one side wall 37 of the body portion, past the longitudinal center thereof, and to a point between such longitudinal center and the other side wall of the body portion. The axis of socket 38 is spaced from the axis of the axle member 19 a distance such that when the body member 21 is pivoted upwardly about such axle member, the open end of the socket will be located beyond the exteriors of the remaining key retainers 20 and wholly uncovered as indicated in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The diameter of the socket 38 approximates the transverse diameter of the key hook head 34 to enable the latter to be readily removed therefrom when the associated body portion 21 is moved out of alignment with the other body portions 21 to uncover the open end of socket 38, and the key hook 24 is moved from the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to a position in which the longitudinal center line of the upper portion of its shank is aligned with the longitudinal axis of socket 38. The key hook is attached to the key retainer by reversing these operations. The inner end of the socket 38 is enlarged to provide at the center of the body portion 21 a chamber 39 of sufficient size for easy swiveling and pivotable movement of the key hook head 34 during the attachment and removal of the keys from the key hooks and also the unhindered use of keys attached to the key loops. Moreover, the plastic socket chamber 39 and metal key loop head provide in effect a universal bearing. Furthermore, the metal to plastic contact insures outstanding wear resistance of both the key loops and key retainers. In essence, the plastic material serves as a low friction, long wearing bearing block which substantially eliminates the problem of key head and key loop wear so long endured with all metal constructions. Communication with such chamber 39 through the bottom wall of the body portion 21 is afforded by a slot 40 which is elongated in a front to rear direction and narrower than both the transverse and longitudinal dimensions of the key hook head 34 so that the latter cannot normally be passed therethrough in the normal use of the device. In addition webs or flanges 47 may be formed at the inner end of the slot 40 to further insure against inadvertent removal of a key loop head from the socket 39 (compare FIGS. 4, 7 and 10). The dimensions of the slot 40 however, are such that if sufficient force is exerted on the key hook, as when the key carried thereby is caught in a lock, the resilient plastic material of body portion 21 and webs 47 will give sufficiently to permit the key hook head to be withdrawn from the chamber 39 therethrough without damage to either the body portion 21 or the key hook 24. Communication of the remainder of the socket 38 through the bottom wall of the body portion 21 is afforded by a slot 41 which extends from slot 40 to said one side wall 37 of the body portion. The slot 41 has a width less than the diameter of the upper portion of the shank of the key hook 24 so that it must be forced therethrough. Due to the inherent resiliency of the material of body portion 21 and spring metal clip 22, the socket 39 and slots 40, 41 form on the body portion 21 what are in effect two spring tongues 42, 42 which give when the key hook shank is forced therethrough and return with a definite snapping sound at the end or finish of such movements of the shank. The movement of the shank therethrough is facilitated because the wall of the chamber 39 and the webs 47 provide supports on which the key hook. can be levered when the loop end is grasped to force it between the tongues 42, 42 in one direction or the other. Thus, the wall portion of chamber 39 adjacent to the upper left hand end of the slot 40 and the webs 47, as viewed in FIG. 4, provides a seat on which the key hook head 34 can be pivoted as the shank of such hook is forced upwardly from the position shown in FIG. 1 between the tongues 42, 42 and into the socket 38. When the shank is forced downwardly between such tongues in attaching the hook to the retaining member a substantially diametrically opposed portion of the chamber wall provides a seat for the key hook head to enable leverage to be applied to the key hook.

The spring clip or shield 22 may be made of any suitably resilient material and in the construction illustrated is made of a single thin sheet of polished high carbon spring steel formed to provide two legs 48, 48 connected by a bight 49. The legs 48 of the shield are made to conform to the configurations of the front and back surfaces of the plastic body portion 21 and do not cover the side walls of such body portion. The shield is initially shaped as shown in FIG. 5 of the. drawings with the lower portions of the legs 48, 48 thereof inclined inwardly, so that when assembled on the body portion 21, it will snap into position thereon and the legs 48, 48 thereof will press inwardly on the plastic body. The shield or clip is thus under tension and imparts its high resilience and fatigue resistance to the plastic body. The tensioned spring metal shield or clip is secured in position on the body portion 21 by ears 45 (see FIGS. 3 and 5) which are turned under to overlie the bottom face of such body portion. Due to the inherent resiliency of the material of shield 22 and the fact that it is shaped so that its legs or sides snap onto the front and back surfaces of the plastic body, such shield functions as aclip to apply an additional locking or posi tioningv load to tongues 42, 42 of the plastic body portion 21 and to reinforce such body portion against distortion. Thus, when the key hook shank is forced between the tongues 42, 42'it is moved therebetween against the combined forces applied by the tongues 42, 42 and the sides of the clip or shield 22. Also when the key shank is moved between such tongue toward the slot 40 and it comes to rest in the latter, the forces exerted by the sides of the shield on the plastic body portion 21 will reinforce the plastic material of such body portion against distortion and function as an additional locking load to retain the key hook in such body portion. The shields 22 also provide a decorative touch and add eye appeal to the finished item.

Each shield 22 is provided with a centrally located closed slot 30 (FIGS. 1, 4, 5 and 9) through which extends the actuator 23 which is integrally connected to the body portion of the key retainer and consequently may be formed of the same material as the latter. As is shown in the drawings, the actuator 23 is composed of two lower end portions 46, 46 in the form of projecting positioning or locking shoulders on the outer surfaces of the upper section 25! of the plastic body 21, and which extend into the lower end portions of the shield slot 30. The shoulders 45 have a thickness approximating the thickness of the shield 22 so that their outer surfaces are substantially flush with the outer surface of such shield. The central body portion of the actuator 23 is enlarged with the outer peripheral portions thereof radially disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of axle member 19 and projecting beyond the shield 22 sufficiently to enable the user to readily engage the same with a finger and manually manipulates such actuator to pivot or flip the key retainer 20 about such axis of the axle member 19. The outer periphcry of the actuator finger engaging body portion is preferably of curved configuration and its greatest radial distance is less than the distance between the axis of the axle member 19 and the upper edge of the back plate 7 so that it does not contact the latter in the pivotal movements of the key retainer and enables the latter to move readily to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. It will be noted from FIG. 1 of the drawings, that the finger engaging body portions of the actuators will in the normal position of the key retainers 20 protrude upwardly in parallel spaced relation from the latter so as to be readily available for manipulation by the user. In accordance with the invention each of the actuators is made of a different colored plastic so that such color will visually indicate to the user each particular key that is connected to each key retainer. Thus, the user merely by observing the actuators can select any particular key he wants in the holder and by manipulating the holder bring such key into position for use. It is believed apparent from the foregoing description that this result may be readily accomplished by the user placing his thumb on the finger engaging body portion of a particular actuator 23 and then pushing down rearwardly on the same to cause the selected key retainer 20 to swivel upwardly on the axle member 19 to the dotted line position illustrated in FIG. 2 whereupon the key will be readily available to be grasped and used.

While there has been hereinabove described and illustrated in the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that various changes and modifications thereof may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus, it will be obvious that the body portions 21 of the key retainers may be made without the shields or covers 22 and that the latter can be made as a permanent part of such body portions. The actuators 23 may also be made as a separate part and assembled on the body portions 21 in any suitable manner and may be given any other configuration desired. The body portions 21 of the key retainers also need not be constructed for detachable key holders, but may be molded so that the latter are permanently connected thereto. In such a construction, the pivotal movements of the retainers about the axis of the axle member 19 and the swivelling movement of the key holders 24 about their longitudinal axes will provide sufficient universal movement to enable the keys to be readily manipulated for their intended purposes. When the key holders are made separate from the body portions 21 as above described in the preferred embodiment of the invention, such body portions may be provided with a generally circular bead or rim 50 (compare FIGS. 6 and 10) located at the juncture of the chamber 39 with the remainder of the socket 38 to provide the head 34 of the hook with definite given entrance and exit loads as it is inserted into and removed from the chamber 39, respectively. The head 50 also functions to retain the head 34 of the hook better in the chamber 39 and facilitates the levered movement of the shank 33 through the slot 41 and it is forced through the latter toward the slot 40. Other changes and modifications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to provide constructions which do not depart from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A key holder comprising a supporting plate, a plurality of individual key retainers arranged in upright position on said plate, a key hook depending from each upright key retainer, means provided on said plate for supporting each key retainer for individual pivotal move ment about a common axis from said upright position and in a forward and upward direction relative to said plate to a position in which a key on the key hook carried thereby may be used, each of said key retainers being composed of a body portion having a key hook head receiving socket which opens on one side wall of said body portion and which extends toward the other side wall thereof in substantial parallelism with said common axis, the inner end of said socket being enlarged and the head of the depending key hook being located in said enlarged inner socket end, and said body portion having an opening through the bottom wall thereof communicating with the enlarged inner end of such socket and through which the shank of the depending key hook extends, said body portion being provided with a spring tongue having its bottom end defining one side of a slot which connects said side wall socket opening and said bottom opening and which has a width less than the transverse dimensions of the key hook shank, said spring tongue preventing movement of the key hook shank through such slot from one of such openings to the other unless such shank is positively moved past said spring tongue, said key retainers being aligned in side-by-side relation on said supporting means so that the socket openings in the side walls thereof are concealed in the normal upright positions of at least the inner of said depending key retainers, and the longitudinal centerlines of said sockets being spaced from the common axis of said supporting means a distance such that when a key retainer is pivoted upwardly about such common axis, the side wall open- 7 ing of the socket thereof will become wholly uncovered.

2. A key holder as defined in claim 1 in which the enlarged inner end of the socket in each key retainer and the head of the associated key hook are so configured that such head is fulcrurned on portions of the wall of such enlarged inner socket end during the movements of the shank of such key hook through said slot and past said spring tongue.

3. A key holder as defined in claim 1, in which said bottom opening in each key retainer is elongated in a frontto-rear direction and narrower than both the transverse and longitudinal dimensions of the key hook head, said bottom opening and said slot forming a T-shaped opening in the bottom wall of the key retainer.

4. A key holder as defined in claim 1, in which the body portion of each key retainer is composed of a single molded piece of resilient plastic material, said spring tongue being an integral part of said piece of plastic material.

5. A key holder as defined in claim 1, including a shield covering the front and rear surfaces of said body portion, and means securing said shield to said body portion.

6. A key holder as defined in claim 5, including a finger piece integrally connected to and forming an outwardly projecting extension of said body portion, and in which said shield is provided with a closed slot through which said finger piece projects.

7. A key retainer device for key hooks in a key holder comprising a body portion constituted of a single molded piece of resilient plastic material, said body portion having at its upper end a transverse opening extending from one side wall to the other and by which it may be supported for pivotal movement, and having a key hook head receiving socket which opens on one side wall of said body portion and which extends toward the other side wall thereof generally in spaced parallelism with said transverse opening, the inner end of said socket being enlarged and forming a chamber for the key hook head, and said body portion having an opening extending through the bottom wall thereof into communication with the enlarged inner end of said socket and through which the shank of a depending key hook extends, and said body portion having a slot extending from said bottom opening to said socket opening and communicating throughout its length with said socket, said slot having a width less than the transverse dimensions of such key hook shank, and said body portion having integrally formed from the resilient plastic material thereof, a pair of spring tongues, the lower ends of which define said slot and resist movement of the key hook shank through said slot unless it is positively moved therethrough, and said body portion having integrally formed with the upper end thereof an upwardly projecting extension providing a finger piece for manipulation of said body portion.

8. A key retainer device as defined in claim 7, including means integral with said body portion at the inner end of said opening, at the juncture of such opening with the enlarged inner end of said socket, and operable to lock the key hook head in the latter against normal stresses tending to withdraw such head through said opening, but yieldable under an excess of such stresses to permit such withdrawal without damage to said body portion.

9. A key retainer device as defined in claim 7, including means integral with said body portion at the juncture of the enlarged inner end of said socket with the remainder of said socket and operable to cause the entry and removal of the key hook head into and from said enlarged socket end through said socket under given entrance and exit loads, respectively.

10. A key retainer device as defined in claim 7, including a shield having two sides connected together and embracing the front and rear surfaces of said body portion, the sides of said shield being composed of resilient material and exerting a yieldable pressure on the plastic material of said body portion to provide an additional locking load against movement of a key hook shank through said slot, said upwardly projecting extension extending through an opening in said shield.

11. A key hook holder comprising a supporting plate, a plurality of key retainers having front and rear surfaces, said retainers being pivotally mounted on said plate, each of said retainers comprising a body of distortable resilient plastic material having a socket formed therein for removably receiving a key hook, the inherent resiliency of said plastic material retaining the key hook until the latter is positively removed from said body, and a spring metal clip embracing said plastic body and imparting an enhanced locking load toward retention of the key hook by said body, said spring metal clip is constituted of a single piece of spring metal having two legs connected by a bight, said legs having free ends, whereby said legs snap onto said front and rear surfaces of said plastic body, and means on the free ends of said legs securing said clip to said body.

12. A key hook holder as defined in claim 11, in which said body is constituted of a single piece of plastic material and has projecting upwardly from the upper end thereof, an integral extension providing a finger piece for manipulation of said body portion, said extension extending through an opening in said bight of said clip.

13. A key holder comprising a support plate, a plurality of key retainers having front and rear surfaces, said retainers being pivotally mounted on said plate, each of said retainers comprising a synthetic plastic body having a socket formed therein for removably receiving a head of a key loop, and a spring metal reenforcing clip embracing, at least in part, said synthetic plastic body and imparting enhanced resilience and fatigue resistance to the synthetic plastic material forming said body, said spring metal clip having two legs connected by a bight, said legs being positioned on said front and rear surfaces, and means securing said clip to said body.

14. Key holder as set forth in claim 13, in which said key loop is formed of metal with its head swivelable in said socket of said plastic material and in which the plastic material serves as a low friction long wearing bearing block which substantially eliminates the problem of wear resulting from contact of the key loop and key head.

15. Key holder as set forth in claim 13, in which said spring metal clip is tensioned when disposed in embracing relation on said synthetic plastic body whereby tension is imparted to the plastic body to permit the head of a key loop to be snapped into and out of place in the socket of said material.

16. Key holder as set forth in claim 13, above in which said plastic body is in the form of a block having a centrally disposed socket formed therein with an opening extending from said socket through the bottom of said block opposite its pivotable mounting on said support plate, and a slot extending through a side wall of said block and communicating with the socket and opening and providing means for insertion and removal from the socket of the head of a key loop, said socket being of sufficient size for easily swiveling and pivotable movement of the key loop head in the socket, the opening through the bottom of said block being of a size less in diameter than the head of the key loop.

17. A key holder for a key case comprising a plurality of key retainers having front and rear surfaces, said retainers being pivotally mounted within said case, each of said retainers comprising a synthetic plastic body having a socket formed therein for removably receiving a head of a key loop, and a spring metal reinforcing clip embracing at least in part said synthetic plastic body, and imparting enhanced resilience and fatigue resistance to the synthetic plastic metal forming said body, said spring metal clip having two legs connected by a bight, said legs being positioned on said front and rear surfaces, and means securing said clip to said body.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Gagnon 24-1161 Bardon 24 123.1 X Schroeder 150-40 Pontin 70456 Lautin 70-456 Sherwood 15040 3,123,881 3/ 1964 Westman 24-222 3,175,265 3/1965 Gunderson 24-123.1 X

FOREIGN PATENTS 5 677,477 8/ 1952 Great Britain.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner. P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner. 

17. A KEY HOLDER FOR A KEY CASE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF KEY RETAINERS HAVING FRONT AND REAR SURFACES, SAID RETAINERS BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID CASE, EACH OF SAID RETAINERS COMPRISING A SYNTHETIC PLASTIC BODY HAVING A SOCKET FORMED THEREIN FOR REMOVABLY RECEIVING A HEAD OF A KEY LOOP, AND A SPRING METAL REINFORCING CLIP EMBRACING AT LEAST IN PART SAID SYNTHETIC PLASTIC BODY, AND IMPARTING ENHANCED RESILIENCE AND FATIGUE RESISTANCE TO THE SYNTHETIC PLASTIC METAL FORMING SAID BODY, SAID SPRING METAL CLIP HAVING TWO LEGS CONNECTED BY A BIGHT, SAID LEGS BEING POSITIONED ON SAID FRONT AND REAR SURFACES, AND MEANS SECURING SAID CLIP TO SAID BODY. 